Growing up, our parents and grandparents would have never thought to disregard or disrespect authority, especially law enforcement. We live in a world now where sayings such as “eff the police” and “they’re all pigs” are a common occurrence in our society. My question is, why has it become so likely to bash and disrespect people who risk their lives everyday to serve and protect our communities?

My answer is this, our generation has lost respect for authority in general. We talk back to our parents, we think rules don’t apply to us and we think we’re entitled to everything. Having that mindset, people hate those that are enforcing laws and getting them in trouble for wrongful actions; but that needs to change and it needs to change now.

We have all heard about the supposed police brutality occurring “everywhere” in the United States, but we rarely hear about the officers who are killed in the line of duty while trying to protect people that they do not even know, people like you and me. Of course, there are some corrupt officers who have wrongfully injured or killed people, but that does not mean that ALL officers are corrupt and cruel. There’s corruptness and wrongful doings in all professions, but it does not mean that everyone has bad intentions. In fact, most officers have the mindset to help citizens in the best way possible.

In 2016 alone, there have already been ten officers killed in the line of duty. The two most recent occurring Thursday, February 11th when Officer Jason Moszer and Officer Greg Barney were tragically shot. This proves that officers are willing to risk their lives for the sake of others and for their community. We need to trust, appreciate and respect police officers again. Every morning, they put on that uniform and hug their families before heading out the door, they know in the back of their heads that there’s a possibility of not coming back home that night. They risk their lives every day and go out of their way to protect strangers. And how do we repay or thank them? By rioting, putting their lives in danger, badmouthing them and disrespecting them and their profession.

No, that’s all wrong. Instead of bashing them, we need to respect them and “have their backs” again like how it used to be. They need our support as much as we need theirs. They are the people we call whenever an emergency happens and they are always there to help us. They are the people who protect us in horrifying situations. Whether people like to admit it or not, we need our police officers and life without them protecting us is unfathomable.

We need to stop disrespecting and rioting against our officers. We need to stand alongside them and give them the support they need. We need to put forth effort to make a change in our community and respect our police officers again.